April 01, 2010

Make It : Tooth Pillow So Quick So Easy

One of Jorn's buddies from school has his first wiggly tooth, but he didn't have a tooth pillow. So I whipped one up in under an hour of leisurely sewing. Here are some very pithy instructions in case you want to make one too. I had to take the pictures when I was working on it at night so the photos aren't the best but you'll get the idea.

You'll need:

fabric for the pillow (how much will depend on how big of a pillow you want)

fabric for the pocket (just a wee bitty scrap, unless the tooth fairy leaves large objects in your house)

a wee bitty piece of white woolen felt, or any felt you have

thread and a hand sewing sewing needle

disappearing ink pen

Instructions to Make it!

First grab any book lying near you that would make a good size pillow, alternatively you can measure and cut a square or rectangle to the size of your liking. I had this vintage book laying near-by and absolutely no motivation to walk upstairs to get my cutting mat and ruler, so I used it.

Trace two pieces of your main pillow fabric using your book and the disappearing ink pen. Cut them out. Set them aside.

Measure and cut a small pocket sized piece from your pocket fabric. I just did this by hand and eye. Fold in each edge about 1/4", press if you want, and sew around to make a nice tidy edges/hems. Set aside. (Not pictured but see the pocket in the picture below?)

Draw a tooth on your white felt using your disappearing ink pen and cut it out, right away, because you are using disappearing ink. You can either glue this onto the center of your pocket or sew it on either by hand or with your machine (I sewed it on by hand since it is small and fiddly)

Pin your completed pocket, centered, to the right side of one of your pieces of pillow fabric. (Mine is missing the felt tooth because I sewed mine on at the very end but it is much, much easier to do this before you sew your pocket instead.)

Top stitch around three sides of the same hem stitching you did before to attach your pocket to your pillow fabric. Be sure to leave the top open for your pocket!

Then place your two pillow pieces right sides facing together and in. Pin in place (or not if you don't want to). Sew around leaving a 1/4"-1/2" seam allowance or whatever you prefer leaving a small opening at the bottom center so you will be able to stuff your pillow.

Trim your edges and corners tidy and then turn the pillow right side out.

Stuff your pillow using poly fill, wool, or whatever you have available and prefer. Knead your pillow so it's nice and fluffy but still firm.

Hand stitch your opening shut using a ladder stitch (here's a link to a great visual PDF tutorial from Sewing Stars) and then you are done! Admire your handiwork and then gift it to any little being with a wiggly tooth!

This pillow measured about 9" when finished. Enjoy and if you make one let me know! I'd love to see it!

Comments

Make It : Tooth Pillow So Quick So Easy

One of Jorn's buddies from school has his first wiggly tooth, but he didn't have a tooth pillow. So I whipped one up in under an hour of leisurely sewing. Here are some very pithy instructions in case you want to make one too. I had to take the pictures when I was working on it at night so the photos aren't the best but you'll get the idea.

You'll need:

fabric for the pillow (how much will depend on how big of a pillow you want)

fabric for the pocket (just a wee bitty scrap, unless the tooth fairy leaves large objects in your house)

a wee bitty piece of white woolen felt, or any felt you have

thread and a hand sewing sewing needle

disappearing ink pen

Instructions to Make it!

First grab any book lying near you that would make a good size pillow, alternatively you can measure and cut a square or rectangle to the size of your liking. I had this vintage book laying near-by and absolutely no motivation to walk upstairs to get my cutting mat and ruler, so I used it.

Trace two pieces of your main pillow fabric using your book and the disappearing ink pen. Cut them out. Set them aside.

Measure and cut a small pocket sized piece from your pocket fabric. I just did this by hand and eye. Fold in each edge about 1/4", press if you want, and sew around to make a nice tidy edges/hems. Set aside. (Not pictured but see the pocket in the picture below?)

Draw a tooth on your white felt using your disappearing ink pen and cut it out, right away, because you are using disappearing ink. You can either glue this onto the center of your pocket or sew it on either by hand or with your machine (I sewed it on by hand since it is small and fiddly)

Pin your completed pocket, centered, to the right side of one of your pieces of pillow fabric. (Mine is missing the felt tooth because I sewed mine on at the very end but it is much, much easier to do this before you sew your pocket instead.)

Top stitch around three sides of the same hem stitching you did before to attach your pocket to your pillow fabric. Be sure to leave the top open for your pocket!

Then place your two pillow pieces right sides facing together and in. Pin in place (or not if you don't want to). Sew around leaving a 1/4"-1/2" seam allowance or whatever you prefer leaving a small opening at the bottom center so you will be able to stuff your pillow.

Trim your edges and corners tidy and then turn the pillow right side out.

Stuff your pillow using poly fill, wool, or whatever you have available and prefer. Knead your pillow so it's nice and fluffy but still firm.

Hand stitch your opening shut using a ladder stitch (here's a link to a great visual PDF tutorial from Sewing Stars) and then you are done! Admire your handiwork and then gift it to any little being with a wiggly tooth!

This pillow measured about 9" when finished. Enjoy and if you make one let me know! I'd love to see it!